Contributions
Abstract: EP1683
Type: Poster Sessions
Abstract Category: Therapy - Tools for detecting therapeutic response
Background: Limited data exist regarding the response to disease modifying treatments (DMTs) and their side effects in Chinese patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS).
Methods: Relapsing MS patients, who were prescribed approved DMTs for MS, were identified from the prospective Chinese University of Hong Kong - Multiple Sclerosis Registry (CU-MSR). We included subjects who used DMTs for at least six months to evaluate annualized relapse rate (ARR), including subjects who were treatment-naïve or switching from first-line agents. Patients were evaluated by nurse and neurologist for all suspected relapses, and all patient-reported side effects were recorded.
Results: We identified 64 subjects who were prescribed DMTs between March 2013 to April 2018. The DMTs used were interferons (n=54, 84%) [interferon-beta-1a subcutaneous (41, 64%); interferon-beta-1a intramuscular (15, 23%); interferon-beta-1b subcutaneous (4, 6%)] and fingolimod (27, 42%). The mean age was 29.4 +/- 9.6 years; 48 (75%) were female; disease duration was 5.8 +/- 9.6 years, Expanded Disability Status Scale at drug initiation was 2.0 +/- 2.0, and duration of DMTs used was 4.6 +/- 3.5 years.
For treatment-naïve subjects, the ARR and relapse rate reduction (RRR) were: interferon (ARR 2.18 to 0.74, RRR 60.0%, p< 0.001); fingolimod (ARR 5.86 to 0.32, RRR 94.5%, p< 0.05). For subjects who switched to fingolimod as a second-line agent, the ARR was reduced from 1.82 to 0.35 (RRR 80.7%, p< 0.001).
The commonest side effects were: interferons - flu-like symptoms (42.6%), injection site reactions (33.3%), malaise (22.2%); fingolimod - liver derangement (3, 11.1%); grade 4 lymphopenia (3, 11.1%), herpes zoster infection (2, 7.4%), and significant bradycardia requiring prolonged first-dose monitoring (1, 3.7%).
Discussion: We found very favorable improvements in relapse rates and good safety profiles to interferons and fingolimod among Chinese MS patients. The higher RRR as compared with published literatures could be due to the inclusion of clinically definite MS patients with higher pre-treatment relapse rates.
Disclosure: The study is funded by Croucher Foundation and educational grants from Novartis Pharmaceuticals.
Abstract: EP1683
Type: Poster Sessions
Abstract Category: Therapy - Tools for detecting therapeutic response
Background: Limited data exist regarding the response to disease modifying treatments (DMTs) and their side effects in Chinese patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS).
Methods: Relapsing MS patients, who were prescribed approved DMTs for MS, were identified from the prospective Chinese University of Hong Kong - Multiple Sclerosis Registry (CU-MSR). We included subjects who used DMTs for at least six months to evaluate annualized relapse rate (ARR), including subjects who were treatment-naïve or switching from first-line agents. Patients were evaluated by nurse and neurologist for all suspected relapses, and all patient-reported side effects were recorded.
Results: We identified 64 subjects who were prescribed DMTs between March 2013 to April 2018. The DMTs used were interferons (n=54, 84%) [interferon-beta-1a subcutaneous (41, 64%); interferon-beta-1a intramuscular (15, 23%); interferon-beta-1b subcutaneous (4, 6%)] and fingolimod (27, 42%). The mean age was 29.4 +/- 9.6 years; 48 (75%) were female; disease duration was 5.8 +/- 9.6 years, Expanded Disability Status Scale at drug initiation was 2.0 +/- 2.0, and duration of DMTs used was 4.6 +/- 3.5 years.
For treatment-naïve subjects, the ARR and relapse rate reduction (RRR) were: interferon (ARR 2.18 to 0.74, RRR 60.0%, p< 0.001); fingolimod (ARR 5.86 to 0.32, RRR 94.5%, p< 0.05). For subjects who switched to fingolimod as a second-line agent, the ARR was reduced from 1.82 to 0.35 (RRR 80.7%, p< 0.001).
The commonest side effects were: interferons - flu-like symptoms (42.6%), injection site reactions (33.3%), malaise (22.2%); fingolimod - liver derangement (3, 11.1%); grade 4 lymphopenia (3, 11.1%), herpes zoster infection (2, 7.4%), and significant bradycardia requiring prolonged first-dose monitoring (1, 3.7%).
Discussion: We found very favorable improvements in relapse rates and good safety profiles to interferons and fingolimod among Chinese MS patients. The higher RRR as compared with published literatures could be due to the inclusion of clinically definite MS patients with higher pre-treatment relapse rates.
Disclosure: The study is funded by Croucher Foundation and educational grants from Novartis Pharmaceuticals.